Are they Diesel Boy or Diesel Man?
It's a question for another day, but the skatepunk band is back with a new single this week, "Bismark," which appears on the upcoming album, Gets Old, their first album since 2001. Gets Old will release via SBÄM Records on July 28.
Dave Lake gives us some insight behind "Bismark," plus what he's been up to in general:
"Bismarck" is an amalgam of memories about moving to Seattle 20 years ago, a big life change for me. Some of the details are real – there was an actual postcard from a girl I was crushing on, while other details are metaphors for the city itself. Both the girl and my new home struck me as beautiful in similarly unconventional ways. We hadn’t planned on having a woman sing on the track, but Matt Bayles, who produced the record, came up with the idea, and when he suggested Kim Warnick of seminal Seattle pop-punk band The Fastbacks, it was a no-brainer. It completed the circle some 22 years later.
The band formed in 1993 at Sonoma State University and later release four albums on Honest Don's, a Fat Wreck Chords imprint.
The line includes returning members Diesel Dave (vocals and guitar) and Greg Hensley (bass),m plus Chad Philipps (guitar), and Christopher Thomas (drums).
The band is planning a European jaunt this summer, with performances at the Brakrock, Punk Rock Holiday, and Tells Bells festivals, in addition to their own headlining sets. Dates closer to their home in the Pacific Northwest are forthcoming as well.
Tour Dates:
07.07.23 Portland, OR @ Dante’s with Versus the World, Dead Bars
08.07.23 Seattle, WA @ El Corazon with Versus the World, Dead Bars
04.08.23 Duffel, B – Brakrock
05.08.23 Neunkirchen, D – Rock Your Holidays w/ Urethane & more
06.08.23 Düsseldorf, D – Pitcher w/ Versus The World
07.08.23 Berlin, D – SO36 w/ Good Riddance
08.08.23 München, D – Unter Deck w/ Shöck
09.08.23 Wien, A – Rhiz w/ Versus The World
10.08.23 Tolmin, SLO – Punk Rock Holiday
11.08.23 Villmar, D – Tells Bells Festival
12.08.23 Stuttgart, D – Goldmarks w/ Urethane